Trump's ex-lawyer all set for confirmation as US attorney general

President Donald Trump's former attorney, Todd Blanche, is set to be confirmed as the new US Attorney General on Friday, despite opposition from Democratic senators who questioned his potential politicization of the Justice Department. Blanche, who previously represented Trump in several criminal cases, is already serving in an acting capacity as the top US law enforcement officer.

While two senators from Trump's party initially voiced opposition, a third, Bill Cassidy, announced his support live on television, making the confirmation process more likely. The main concerns for Democrats included the potential creation of a US$1.8 billion fund for "victims of politicized prosecutions," such as the Jan 6 Capitol rioters, and a proposal granting Trump immunity from tax audits.

Blanche addressed these issues by withdrawing the fund proposal and limiting the audit immunity to past tax years. Blanche has been closely tied to a "retribution" campaign against Trump's political opponents, and faced criticism from Epstein victims over his handling of sensitive files related to the convicted sex offender.